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Communities in West Virginia offer residents a welcoming atmosphere, affordable cost of living, and a strong sense of connection to nature and neighbors alike. From charming small towns to vibrant cities like Charleston and Morgantown, West Virginia communities provide friendly neighborhoods, excellent schools, and access to outdoor recreation right at your doorstep. Residents enjoy a slower pace of life, surrounded by the state’s beautiful mountains, rivers, and forests, as well as rich local culture, historic sites, and community events that bring people together.

 

With safe streets, local businesses, and a true spirit of Appalachian hospitality, living in West Virginia communities means enjoying a high quality of life and a supportive, tight-knit environment where everyone feels at home. Be sure to visit our Communities Travel Guide for information about communities in West Virginia.

Streams like this one may appear insignificant, but researchers say small mountain headwaters collectively play a major role in supplying and protecting Charleston's drinking water. (WVExplorer Photo)
Communities

Charleston’s drinking water depends on thousands of small mountain streams

by Clyde Craig

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Perhaps most people think of Charleston‘s drinking water as beginning in the Elk River, though researchers point out that it actually starts much farther upstream. According to a new analysis by scientists at Yale University and the University of Massachusetts, thousands of small mountain streams flowing into the Elk River watershed contribute … Read more

A researcher adjusts laser-based equipment used to study plasma behavior in a laboratory setting. Scientists at West Virginia University are developing new methods that could advance technologies ranging from semiconductor manufacturing to spacecraft propulsion and fusion energy.
Communities

WVU researchers developing plasma tech that could improve computer chips, spacecraft and fusion energy

by Clyde Craig

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia University researchers have secured a $633,833 National Science Foundation grant to develop technology that could improve computer chip manufacturing, spacecraft propulsion systems and future fusion-energy devices. The project places WVU scientists among a relatively small group of researchers working to solve one of plasma physics’ most challenging problems—understanding what happens … Read more

A spectator watches a Fourth of July fireworks display. Medical professionals say hand injuries and burns increase significantly during Independence Day celebrations each year. (Photo: Dillen M)
Communities

Why hand injuries surge during Fourth of July fireworks celebrations

by David Sibray

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — As Americans prepare to celebrate Independence Day with fireworks, medical professionals warn that the holiday also brings a predictable surge in emergency room visits for serious hand injuries. According to B. Seth Powers, a certified hand therapist and assistant professor in the Master of Occupational Therapy program at the West Virginia University … Read more

Fireflies, also known as lightning bugs, illuminate a West Virginia field on a summer evening. The Mountain State is home to numerous species whose populations depend on healthy habitat and dark night skies.
Communities

Scientists say West Virginia’s dark skies are becoming a refuge for fireflies

by David Sibray

WATOGA, W.Va. — As fireflies begin their annual summer display across West Virginia, scientists say one of the insects’ greatest allies may be something many residents take for granted—darkness. Across much of the eastern U.S., artificial lighting continues to expand as development spreads into rural areas. Streetlights, security lighting, and commercial development have transformed nightscapes … Read more